Social classes in Britain
Social classes are the traditionalistic way of subdividing society into smaller groups after prosperity, occupation, income, ethnicity and culture. In some societies, this dividing is very important for a person's opportunities and future development. Britain has a tradition of dividing individuals into these groups, and there are typically three main groups of social classes: Upper class, middle class and lower class. The classes may again be subdivided into smaller classes. Multiculturalism, higher education level and an international free trade have had a destroying impact on the traditionalistic class system, but some key elements still remain.
Typical structure of British society, divided into the following social classes:
1. Upper class – inherited wealth, often titled aristocrats.
2. Upper middle class – people belonging to rich families
3. Middle class – majority of the British population.
4. Working class – agricultural, mine and factory workers.
5. Lower class – generally poor people.
British upper class mainly consists of people with inherited wealth and people in possession of a hereditary peerage (such as Dukes, Barons and Earls). In Britain, the Queen holds the upper position of the upper class. Money and possessions are of less importance than powerful titles and family ties in British upper class.
The upper middle class consists of people born into traditionally rich families. The children of the upper middle class attend prestigious public schools, and there is generally a lot of prestige connected to belonging to the upper middle class. David Cameron, the UK Prime Minister, belongs in the upper middle class.
The majority of the British population are considered to be middle class, and they may have been educated in either public or state schools. Typical middle class jobs are doctor, accountant, lawyer, architect, teacher, social worker, manager, businessman, engineer and civil servant. Education is highly valued by middle class people, and is considered to be their opportunity to rise in social status.
The lower middle class consists of people with less income than middle class people, and they are typically having white collar jobs and living in less prosperous suburbs. Typical lower middle class jobs are retail sales, ticket agents, railway guards, stewardesses, travel agents, hotel clerks, shipping clerks, transportation dispatchers and low level civil service jobs.
Working class has, since the industrial revolution, been a large social group in Britain. The class consists of people in either skilled or unskilled blue collar jobs. The incomes of working class people ranges from relative high to relative low, depending on skill and work level. The status of the working class has been reduced since the de-industrialisation in the 1970's, and the social group is considered to be a both social and economic poor group.
The lower class, also known as the underclass, consists of the unemployed, economic immigrants, social security clients, poor pensioners and homeless people. These people are poorly integrated in British society and are struggling to rise in social status.